Malaysia’s 99-year-old ex-PM Mahathir hospitalised for coughing

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s 99-year-old former prime minister of two decades, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been admitted to hospital for coughing, his spokesman said on July 18.

Dr Mahathir has been at the National Heart Institute since July 15 and will remain in hospital for a few days, the spokesman said, without providing further details on his condition.

The former premier has a history of heart problems and was

last admitted to the institute in January

for an unspecified infection. He was discharged nearly three months later.

He has suffered heart attacks as well as Covid-19.

Dr Mahathir had two stints as prime minister, his first ending in 2003 after 22 years in the job.

He returned as premier at the age of 92 after leading the opposition coalition to

a historic election win in 2018,

defeating the party he once led. His government collapsed in less than two years due to infighting.

The former leader is among those being investigated by Malaysia’s anti-graft agency for matters related to asset declaration. REUTERS